More mergers

Kevin Harvick Inc. and Richard Childress Racing were the latest to announce a combination of resources, although their relationship has existed for several years.
KHI and RCR join Robert Yates Racing, which announced a merger with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing of the Champ Car World Seres, and JR Motorsports joining forces with Hendrick Motorsports. JR Motorsports is the NASCAR team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The agreement between KHI and RCR expands an existing arrangement. RCR provides engines and support to Harvick's Busch and Truck Series teams.
“The goal of this increased relationship is to make both programs stronger,” said Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Our plan is to field a fourth NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team for 2008 so we’re going to work more closely with KHI on the Busch side. Kevin and DeLana have put together a very good program and I have all the confidence in the world that we’re going to have a better overall program than what we have already.”
DeLana Harvick is Kevin's wife and shares operation responsibilities with her husband at KHI. Harvick, as a driver, has won 29 Busch Series races for RCR and two Busch Series championships. KHI has won three Busch Series races and seven Truck Series races.
“Richard has been very supportive of everything DeLana and I have attempted to do here at KHI,” said Harvick, co-founder and CEO of Kevin Harvick Inc. “As he goes forward with the planned expansion of his Cup program, I believe this partnership will continue to build on the success we have both enjoyed in the Busch Series.”
The merger between JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports will eventually lead to two full-time Busch Series teams for JR Motorsports starting in 2008. The two teams will combine operations before the end of the 2007 season with plans to expand in 2008.
Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, will be listed as car owner of the No. 5 Busch Series team and Earnhardt Jr. will be owner of the No. 88 team at JR Motorsports.
“It’s a great opportunity to have the wholesale support that Hendrick Motorsports is going to provide,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Being a relatively new team owner in this sport, this is a huge step for me and everyone at JR Motorsports. It was never part of the equation when I was deciding where to drive next year, but it seemed to be a natural progression once Rick and I began talking about the transition into 2008.”
Earnhardt Jr. will be driving for Hendrick in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2008.